Posts from Outdoor Space

Say hello to the beautiful Multi Basket Picnic Basket, designed by Danish brand Menu. Compact and elegant, it's heralded as "the ideal mobile device for all things delicious" — which, if you think about it, is kind of a hilarious way to describe a picnic basket...

Nobody does color and pattern quite like Finnish company Marimekko. We've long been fans of their kitchen textiles, and we still love this super colorful pot holder. As if that weren't enough, now we're smitten with their vibrant paper napkin collection! How pretty would these be at your next summer bash?

Long weekends always put me in a lazy, hazy mood, a let's-scroll-through-Pinterest-for-pretty-things mood. On my mind this past Memorial Day weekend: gorgeous, colorful, fantasy outdoor dining spaces that are the stuff of dreams.

Packing for a picnic might seem like a breeze since, unlike a barbecue, there's no on-site cooking or raw meat involved. But since you're traveling and eating outside without the convenience of refrigeration, here are a few things to keep in mind when you're loading up the picnic basket to pack it safely.

Is it camping weather where you live yet? I've just returned from Big Sur and the first of what I hope are many campfire meals this season. Even when it's as simple as corn on the cob or scrambled eggs, there's something deeply satisfying about cooking over an open fire. I also discovered a new easy-to-pack ingredient that's great for camping.

Throwing an outdoor soirée this summer? If you're not terribly enthused by standard disposable tableware (read: blue plastic cups and wimpy white paper plates), we don't blame you. Thankfully, there are some lovely, colorful, and just plain cheerful disposable table pieces out there. Here are 10 picks that would prettify any picnic table:

Have a small porch or patio? Stop wistfully eying those eight-person tables with their big cushy chairs and wide sun umbrellas, and embrace the tiny table. It may only be big enough for two, but it's just right for a cozy spring breakfast or late afternoon tea. Here are 10 tables perfectly suited for small outdoor spaces:

This week is not very picture-heavy, as all of the action is taking place below the soil. So, I thought I'd take the chance to share a cute pic of my gardening assistant helping me out, following up the seed planting with a little water. (For the record, he was watering the already-sprouting pea plants here. I was weary of him washing away the new seeds with that watering can!)

Mosquitoes are the worst. On the bright side, they make me feel loved and delicious. Here in South Carolina, we are having a late summer resurgence of these pesky little bugs with a big bite, at least for some of us. Why are some people immune, while the rest of us turn into an all you can eat mosquito buffet? We've all heard the rumors. Are any of them true? Can what you eat make you a target or — even better — provide you with an invisibility cloak?